Observation-car.



E. BHANSON. OBSERVATION CAR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT'. I8. |915. muswin JAN. 22, |917.

Mmmm Patented. July 10, 1917.

ELIJAH BRANSON, DF GENEVA, KENTUCKY.

OBSERVATION CAR.

escaner.

Application filed September 18, 1915, Serial No. 51,486.

.'I'o all /wtom t may @0f/acera.'

Re it known that l, hieraan BnANsoN, a citizen of the `United States, residing at (teneva, in the county of Henderson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful lmprovenionts in Observation-Cars, of which the following is a specification. refI 'ence being had to the accomp a nyin g dra win This invention relates to an improved observation car and has for its prima-ry object to provide a railway passenger' car of this type having an improved roof construction whereby the passengers may obtain an unobstructed view of the surrounding above the car wlthout leaning dows, standing upon an obseli'vation platforlu at the end of the car, or otherwise ex` posing themselves to possible injury.

lt is another* and more particular obyect of my invention to provide an observation car having a .roof consisting of a multiplicity of transparent slabs or glass plates, spaced transverse rafters to receive and support the plates and means for rigidly holding the plates upon the rafters, and shades or curtains mounted within the car adapted to be drawn und the glass roof plates to out off the glare of the sun. p

The invention has for a further general object to improve and simplify the construction of railway passenger cars of the above character, and provide a car which is particularly desirable and serviceable on those roads running through canyons or gorges and which will greatly add to the pleasure and enjoyment of the passengers in permitting a clear and unobstructed view of the contiguous scenery.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination 'and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure l is a top plan view of an observation railway car constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; Y

F ig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary perspective view of one of the metal rafters.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 desfrom the win- Specification of Letters Patent.

llatcn'ted el' nly it), i917. Renewed January 22, 1917'. Serial No. 143,884.

ignates the sides of the car body and (i the ends thereof. The side walls 5 of the car body are connected at their upper edges by means of a plurality of spaced transverse rafters 7. lCach of these rafters is of tubular sheet metal construction and of triangular shape in cross-section, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, with the apex thereof di.- posed downwardly. Each rafter includes spaced parallel vertical portions S which are connected by the central or intermediate portion 9 of the rafter. From the lower ends of the vertical portions S, the raftcr 7 inclines outwardly and downwardlyin opposite directions and is engaged upon the upper edge of the respective side walls ot' the car body. These outwardly extending end portions .10 of each rafter are cut away at their extremities so as to provide projections or extensions on the top plate of the rafter. as shown at 11. These extensions rest upon the upper edges of the side walls 5 of the car, and upon these upper edges of the side walls between the ends of the rafters, the angle plates 12 of steel or other metal are arranged and secured to thc side walls of the car.

The portion 7 of each rafter is provided with arentral longiti'ulinally extending rih or bead 13 terminating a slight dist-ance inwardly of the outer end of the portion 7 or more particularly the eXtension 11 thereof in order that an elfective engagement may be had between the outer ond of the rafter 11 and the adjacent angle plate 12. The glass slabs or plates 1+i are arranged between. the spaced roof rafters and rest at their edges upon said rafters against the opposite sides of the ribs or beads 13. The bolts or rods 15 are extended through the roof rafters 7 and through the ribs 13 thereon, the upper ends of said ribs being disposed through the pla-tes 16 and having nuts 17 threaded upon their lower ends. By tightening these nuts on the lower ends of the rods, the plates 16 may be clamped down upon the edges of the glass plates 111-. In. this manner, the several plates of'glass may be easily and quickly secured in rafters 7. The vertical portions 8 of the rafters and the central transverse portions 9 thereof are connected bv metal or wood plates and form a central deck in the roof, as indicated at 18.

In order to exclude the rays of the sun when desired, I provide the curtains 19 place upon the roof i and secured posed. beneath the glass roof plates so as to' effectua-lly exclude the rays of the sun from the interior of the car. After the glass plates have been arranged upon the rafters in place as above stated, the clamping plates 16 may be covered. with white lead, or other impervious material so as to prevent the leakage of water between the edges of the metal plates 1G and the glass plates. to; the interior of the car.

From the the construction and several advantages of the invention will be` clearly and fully understood..` Then the car is moving through adeep canyon or gorge and the passengers desire toA observe the surrounding landscape above the car, it is not necessary for them to leave their respective seats,v as by looking upward, they may obtain a clear and unobstructed view through the glass roof plates. In observation railways asv at present constructed, it is usual to provide an observation platform upon the rear of the oar.4 The capacity of such a platform is not only limited, but there is some danger of persons losing their balance and falling from the platform in the jar or vibration of the car, and also being struck by dislodged stones vin the passage of the car at a high rate of speed. It is apparent that a car constructed in accordance with: the pres* ent invention will entirely overcome these objections in the use o-f an observation platf form, and the passengers will be protected against accidents and inclement weather,

but Vpermitting of a clear view of the surrounding scenery. lhen it is desired to Goples of this patent may be obtained for The guide pulleys 2()v foregoing descripion, taken inI connection with the accompanying drawing`l `shut out the direct rays of theV sun, it is only necessary to draw the curtains 19 in the manner above stated. It will also be manifest that an observation car constructed in accordance with my invention may be manufactured at comparatively small cost and' is lhighly convenient and serviceableV in actua-l use.

While I have shown and describedf'tl'ie preferred construction. and arrangement of the several elements employed, it is to be understood that the device is susceptible of considerable modification. therein and I. therefore, reserve the privilege of resortingy to. all. such legitimate changes Vas may be fairly embodied withiriy the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described; my invention, whatl I desire to claim and secure by Iietters Patent is 'lhe combination with a body including side walls,of a plurality of spaced transverse rafters, each of said. rafters being substantia-lly V-shagfpe in cross section with its apex disposed: downwardly and having4` the outer endsof itstop portion provided with extensionsv overlying the side walls, each off said rafters. being also provided at its top with an upstanding longitudinally disposed rib` positioned at the transverse center thereof, the ends of said rib terminatingy inwardly of theends of the extensions of the beam, angle plates fixed tothe outer faces of the side wal-lis and having one of their flanges extending inwardly and overlying the extended portions of the beams, transparent roof plates interpOSed between the rafters and seated at their edgesupon the rafters at opposite sides of the ribs thereof, and means carried by the rafters for holding the roof plates in applied position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix signature Vin, the presence of two4 witnesses.`

ELIJAH BRANSQON.

Witnesses five, cents each.l by addressing the @Commissioner VPatents, Washington., 1),-, C!" 

